Electricity management system gives sports trike a boost

Nuvation
Engineering, a leading provider of electronic design services, has
developed a custom battery management system, fuel gauge and driver
interface for electric vehicles. The innovative system is currently
featured on the OptaMotive 'E. Rex'. The OptaMotive 'E. Rex' was on
display at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month.

Through
a close partnership with Maxim, Nuvation engineers designed the next
generation battery management system around the MAX11068 to provide
voltage monitoring, temperature monitoring, and balancing for the high
capacity and high-density battery pack in the OptaMotive E. Rex. Fuel
gauging was implemented through Nuvation's advanced engineering
methodology, using the Maxim ModelGauge, which combines voltage
measurement with coulomb counting to achieve continuous automatic
calibration.

Featuring
a battery pack that utilizes 106 lithium-iron phosphate cells, the E.
Rex's 35 kilowatt-hour pack has a driving range of 200 miles and a
recharge time of four hours at 220 volts/40 amps. The E. Rex is capable
of 0-to-60 mph in five seconds and a top speed of well over 100 mph.

"The
advanced battery management system monitors each cell's voltage and
temperature to ensure safety, balanced cells for long range and long
battery life, and to optimize vehicle performance," said Michael Worry,
CEO of Nuvation. "The advanced E. Rex three-wheeled electric car has six
times the efficiency of a Prius, yet more torque per pound than a
Porsche 911 Turbo. The E. Rex proves going green can be fun and
efficient."